The new Littlejohn Coliseum: An early inside look

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CLEMSON – Thirty members of the Clemson media toured the new Littlejohn Coliseum Wednesday morning, with Joe Simson (Associate Athletic Director of Facilities Management) taking 90 minutes to show off what’s been completed and what still has to be done.

The $63.5 million renovation project for Littlejohn Coliseum renovation began in late May 2015.

Here are some quick takeaways from the tour, followed by videos and photos of what we saw.

*The new arena seats less (approximately 9,000 seats) but looks bigger than the old coliseum, especially when you’re down on the floor.

*Basketball won’t have to go anywhere else on campus - the facility will incorporate all aspects of the men‘s and women‘s basketball programs, including coaches’ offices and locker rooms, a new weight room and a theater area.

*The project won’t be completed until October, but Simon said the team will be able to practice on the main floor when the students arrive in August.

*The practice gym will have windows that open above the court for practicing recording, with the men’s basketball offices on one side overlooking the floor and the women’s on the other side. There will also be a large screen that will be used for video playback during practice. The practice court can be configured for two 94-foot practice floors that can be used simultaneously. However, the practice courts won’t be ready until October.

*The new facility will be open to football fans in October. What the arena will be used for during home football games is still up in the air.

*Simon said fans should have no connectivity problems. The old system (which was spotty at best) was never really meant to accommodate large numbers of devices, but the new WiFi system is built so that 9,000 different devices can use the network at the same time.

*There is a new concession area, and fans can keep up with the game action while they’re in line by watching two huge video boards in the common area.

*Student seating is bleacher-style on one end of the court, with roll out bleachers also designated for students in front of the club seating. However, that part is built so the students can stand and not interfere with the sight lines of the fans in the club seating area.

Inside the new Littlejohn pic.twitter.com/WUtF4opoL1

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Student seating, bleacher style pic.twitter.com/J5H3zjixGv

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

View from media seats pic.twitter.com/wHHPxa0NF6

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

New practice court pic.twitter.com/VgCGh8NTLh

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

My view of the court pic.twitter.com/m0Y6rgJvxM

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Courtside view pic.twitter.com/Io137WAnvV

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Student seating from below pic.twitter.com/ENlJR8412e

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Practice court pic.twitter.com/07lc5hlquQ

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Clemson locker room pic.twitter.com/mPuoTWxSTB

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Team film room pic.twitter.com/Sh5TqreJR5

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

New seats pic.twitter.com/kN11U3r2E2

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Court from above pic.twitter.com/H69GwtVrVM

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

Coaches locker room pic.twitter.com/zfC0ETRYyK

— David Hood (@MDavidHood) July 20, 2016

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